I dislike labels being placed on children but the truth is that some children get placed in categories after being in the public school system. I have adopted older children who are behind in school. I've brought one home and am in the process of bringing home the other to educate. One of the children is labeled, "Educable Slow" "ADHD" and "ODD". After a Special Ed teacher told me that "kids like this can't learn," I decided to prove that statement wrong. He was doing 3-4th grade level at age 14 in the public school system and having him home for a few months has bumped him up to about 6th/7th grade level. It is challenging for him but I have been able to support and encourage him to this point. He is progressing but I do think he will have trouble testing out the the level he is doing. I want him to succeed. However, I do not want to push him too hard and have him resent learning (which is where he was when he was in school). I'm interested to know if anyone else is homeschooling an older child with these types of labels and what curriculum/ teaching styles work for you? Do you have any that were able to graduate and not have to settle for the GED? Am I being realistic? What curriculums and testing services worked for you?

Let me just say that regardless of any dc's learning abilities, he can still be graduated from his home school. He does not need a GED any more than any other student. As the teacher, *you* decide what your dc must do in order to be graduated (most states do not have requirements for hsed students to graduate).

I knew a hser many years ago who brought home her 9yo dd, who was "developmentally delayed." This little girl had been in school since she was 2, and still could not read, could not do basic arithmetic, could not tell time...yet her mother was able to teach her to read and do arithmetic and more. The improvements by the end of her first year were amazing.

I don't know you or your dc, of course, but I have to say that I have known *many* people whose dc flourished when brought home to learn._________________Married to Mr. Ellie for over 30 years
Mother to 2 dds and 2 dsil
Grandmother to 1 sweet boy
Caretaker of 2 budgies

I have a somewhat similar problem. I am homeschooling my 12 year old granddaughter who was adopted by my son and his wife about 2 years ago. She was in public school up until that time. Until she was 7 she had been in a very unstable environment and pretty much lost the whole first year of school. This past year we have been using ACE or School of Tomorrow. She is about 2 years behind grade level. I think it works well for a slow-learner. You can go as fast or as slow as you need to. Your child will take a diagnostic test bfore starting this curriculum to show you where he/she needs to begin. My gd had to make up a few PACES (these are the work books they use) in math and English to start at 5th grade level. The diagnostic test is available online for free. Their website is www.aceministries.com if you are interested. The ACE stands for Accelerated Christian Education but it is really NOT an accelerated program.

BJ, your child is truly privileged to have the opportunity to excel in your household! I would like to suggest a supplementary program that I have come to uphold called Whoosh Learning.

Whoosh Learning is designed to give our children a boost in spelling, reading, and mathematics through visual, auditory and interactive forms of learning. It isn't another "Dora" video game that injects minimal learning into a movie, but is actually constructed to teach our children! It uses repetition, confirmation, and a rewards system to reinforce taught concepts.

There is a woman located in Chicago named Dr. Molly Keogh who developed this program that has essentially changed my perspective on learning. Their aim for our children is not only to learn the material, but to actually master and retain that information, which is when Dr. Molly says true learning takes place. The multiplication table is a great example of this method. It is learned, practiced, tested, timed, and ultimately retained for life. Once a skill is truly mastered, it can be quickly recalled and can be the base for greater learning.

Hello I just came upon this thread and it was just what I was looking for. BJ Oates if you are still out there could you please contact me on your progress and what materials you used. We have just gotten custody of my husbads 14 year old daughter and she is only on a 5th grade level. I need help as to what direction to take her in. I know I can do it and you just help motivate me even more. Thank You;-)

I think you should get him a special education qualified teacher for that, a teacher that is dedicated for the job or you could get in one of those special education masters programs yourself, if you want to make sure you train them correctly. Good luck, so far it looks like you're doing a great job.

I was wondering if anybody has any advice for me?
My daughter is 12 and I was told she was on a 3rd
Grade level. We tried middle school for about a week
But the teachers were very impatient with her
(They were resource teachers!)..so I saw that middle
Wasn't going to work so I started homeschooling her.
We are working in different grade level workbooks
nothing above 3rd we made some progress.
I found out we are moving to another city soon I was
wondering if maybe a different middle school
would be a option? I just need some advice any would be
nice lol... Thanks and if I posted on somebody
else page pls forgive me I'm new on here thanks

Have you heard of the All About Reading curriculum? It is very well known in the special needs community because it uses a multi sensory method called the Orton Gillingham method.
I would definitely recommend home schooling...to boost confidence and help you advocate for your child. your school district is required by law to do all sorts of tests and evaluations for free for you, regardless of whether or not your child attends public school

You're doing a great job to help the mankind. Homeschooling a children who lacks some of skill is fantastic. I too dislike that many teachers labelled these children with different names, so I myself being a maths tutor teaches these special children to prove the world that these children can do anything if guided properly.